Kunene-Omatando 400kV line to strengthen NamPower’s transmission network

NamPower continues to maintain and upgrade its transmission infrastructure, while expanding it to accommodate the growing electricity demand and generation integration requirements in the country. These investments are guided by the utility’s Transmission Infrastructure Expansion Programme (Master Plan), which outlines the transmission reinforcement required for the next twenty years, based on load growth, customer requirements as well as the overlaying of the current 220kV grid with a 400kV grid. NamPower will spend over N$7 billion on the Transmission Infrastructure Expansion Programme over the next five to seven years. The newly completed 400kV line, which runs from the planned Kunene Transmission substation up to the existing Omatando substation, at a length of 191km, is part of the Transmission Infrastructure Expansion Programme. The line will in future be operated at 400kV and will significantly strengthen the supply towards Omatando substation, to cater for the load growth in Northern Namibia and Southern Angola. The line will form part of a future 400kV ring, to provide a redundant evacuation path for power from Ruacana Power Station. It will also form part of the assets required for the future integration of the Baynes Power Station. Although the Kunene and Omatando substation developments are still awaited to be able to operate the line at 330kV, the line will initially be energised at 132kV to provide some support for the Northern load centres.The single circuit 400kV Transmission line with Aluminium Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR) triple-tern conductor and 48 core Optic Fibre Ground Wire (OPGW), stems from the newly planned Kunene Transmission Substation, located 20km south of Ruacana, connecting to the Omatando Transmission Substation, located northwest of Ongwediva. During the environmental impact assessment process, it was decided to have the line first following a southerly direction to avoid the Efundja area which is frequently flooded during the rainy season, as well as to avoid the densely populated area around Tsandi and Okongo. Once energised, the 400kV line and the newly built substations will not only strengthen the power supply network in the northern region, but will also ensure sufficient and reliable power supply, owing to a circuit breaker and a half configuration to be deployed at the Kunene and Omatando substations. This means that if any single piece of equipment fails, maintenance can be done without causing power interruptions.A two-year contract was awarded to the Power Line Africa & Ohalula Construction Joint Venture for the design, construction and management of the project. This is the first time that a Namibian owned joint venture is awarded a NamPower contract of such magnitude, making the Kunene-Omatando line, the first 400kV line on the Transmission Network that is solely constructed by Namibians. The project is carried out on a turn-key contract and a total of 177 people are employed as contract workers. Although the project was hampered by heavy rains experienced during the rainy season, it is anticipated that it will be completed well before the contractual completion date of 13 July 2018. This also marks the first project in NamPower to formally implement the NamPower Equitable Economic Empowerment Policy (NEEEP). NEEEP is a deliberate economic empowerment tool undertaken by NamPower to redress historical socio-economic inequalities in the Namibian society and it seeks to enable Previously Disadvantaged Namibians (PDNs) to own, manage and share in the country’s economic resources. The project was awarded before the Public Procurement Act came into being, thus the transitional provisions in the PPA applies.To conform to the NEEEP requirements, the Joint Venture has committed to subcontract works to a number of Namibian owned and registered companies.Furthermore, the Joint Venture pledged 2% of the contract value towards training and development for PDNs and 3% towards community investments. These pledges are coordinated by the NamPower Foundation.The NamPower Transmission Master Plan is updated on an annual basis to ensure that the company maintains the pace at which the country’s electricity needs evolve and to ensure that network expansions are executed accordingly. The utility’s transmission network, spans over more than 11 000 KM.

Kunene-Omatando 400kV line to strengthen NamPower’s transmission network

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-07

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Kunene-Omatando 400kV line to strengthen NamPower’s transmission network

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-07

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